A4PG

Fundraiser Review

The Access 4 Producers Group Fundraiser 3 raised over $550 before expenses and the total after is unclear until the board decides how much to absorb in advertising costs that were incurred during the promotion when a meeting could not be scheduled. The treasurer has agreed to cover the difference and proceeded with the necessary promotions. It is likely that we made at least $300.

But we were the only ones to come out on top. We regret to say that Broadway Nites did not do so well in spite of the huge numbers of people there due to the fact that drink sales were down. We appreciate their working with us and hope to remedy that for any future events to take place there.

Equipment Update

The Capital Area Career Center Board of Directors has agreed that the producers should have the equipment from the former studio since we cannot take them up on their offer for services. Perhaps in the future, as A4PG grows with Access, we can work with them. We are working on transporting the equipment into storage where it may be possible to set it up for limited use.

Next Fundriaser

The Group Board is looking to continue raising money to acquire a lease on a physical space. The next fundraiser will be at Norb Andy’s on September 24th, 2010, featuring the work of local photographers. DJ MsLisa qwill be playing electro and there may even be some more surprises in the works so stay tuned for more info. (If you have FaceBook, check this page out.)

Channel 4 and the City

Thanks a MILLION!!! to the City, to Ernie, Kerri, the Council, our donors, the FaceBook Cause Members and followers of our Fan Page and everyone and anyone else who helped or wanted to help. Access 4 is BACK!

 

STAy tUNed!

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The 501 c3 process for the Access 4 Producers Group is currently stalled but well in the process. Due to problems related to the flood and other issues involving some members of the newly elected board here in Springfield, we have stalled on meetings, web maintenance, and the 501 c3 application submission.

However, the Secretary has the $50 filing fee and has gone through the arduous task of filling out the application form which will all be turned in next. The President and the Treasurer will then go to the bank which we have chosen (US Bank downtown) and submit a copy of our minutes from the meeting wherein the principle officers were elected, along with our FEIN number and open a bank account for the group.

The Treasurer will then deposit all the money from the previous two fundraisers, which amounts to the better part of a thousand dollars at this point–prior to the main payment for the 501 c3 status–and the group will be able to accept checks in the name: Access 4 Producers Group (no apostrophé) as well as be able to pay out of the account for expenses.

 

Gallery Girl Jennifer Snopko, Emcee Alan Perry, and Musician Josie Lowder of The Missing Muse: Jennifer poses with a Felicia Olin original entitled, “Heroine,” which will be on sale at the event, 40% will go to the Access 4 producers group.

 

 

Fundraisers

The fundraisers were very successful in terms of what we could do before getting our non-profit status. Another thanks to all who helped at both of them, especially to Alan Perry who is stepping it up a notch in the planning of the next fundraiser, coming up faster than expected on July 24th upstairs at Broadway Nites.

Alan hosts a comedy showcase every Wednesday at Broadway downstairs, and was responsible for the comedians at the first fundraiser upstairs. This time he has planned a runway show with models ranging in age from 11 to 30-something, strutting there stuff in between sets by local bands and musicians who support cable access. There will be a 50/50 drawing and other raffles including a possible “spin” painting by local painter, Michael J. Mayosky.

Here is the press release, schedule, and poster text and graphic on this HTML page and in various formats below for your convenience:

[Press Release - PDF] – [Schedule - PDF]
[Press Release - Word Doc] – [Schedule - Word Doc]
[Press Release - Rich Text] – [Schedule - Rich Text]

[Poster - JPG] [Poster - PDF]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Access 4 Producers Group Fundraiser 3

Runway Show/Art Exhibition/Concert/Comedy Show
Date: Saturday, July 24th, 2010
Place: Broadway Nites, Upstairs, 210 Broadway, Springfield, IL
Contact: Phone (217) 691-1301

This will be the third fundraiser that the Access 4 Producers group has held to raise funds for a physical space and for 501 c3 filing fees. It will be hosted by Alan Perry and held upstairs at Broadway Nites at 210 Broadway in Springfield, IL, and will feature a runway show with models, comedians, musicians and artists.

The comedians performing include (in this order) Tree Sanchez from St. Louis, Sarah Smertz from Springfield (Local WDBR personality), Kathy Zeman from St. Louis, Rich Mansfield.

There will be 3 runway segments by Shawnee Studios Model and Talent Management featuring vintage clothing, Asian styles and the original designs of Lisa Clemons and Amy Walden. Among the many fine models that have passed an audition and grueling rehearsal schedule will be Prairie Art Alliance Gallery II Assistant, Gallery Girl Jennifer Snopko.

The musicians featured include Hat Trick featuring Dave Leach, Hot Bag O’ Donuts, The Missing Muse, and Molten Crunch (featured on Arjuna Records’ compilation).

The art exhibit will be curated by Gallery Girl Jennifer Snopko and each artist will donate 40% of any sales to the Producers Group. Artists Felicia Olin and Melanie Edmonson will both be painting live at the event and their paintings will be sold as well.

Michael J. Mayosky will create one of his famous “spin-paintings” on site which will be raffled off. The other raffles will include a 50/50 raffle and an Arbonne Basket of skin care products donated by Shawnee.

Below is the tentative schedule of events:

8:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Alan Perry Intro (30 minutes) 10 minutes of songs. Musical Number with Libby Roth (last 5 Minutes) 8:30 PM to 8:35 PM Runway segment #1 (5 minutes)

8:35 PM to 8:45 PM
Comedian #1 Tree Sanchez [St. Louis] (10 Minutes)

8:45 PM to 8:55 PM
Comedian #2 Sarah Smertz (10 Minutes)

8:55 PM to 9:00 PM
50/50 RAFFLE (5 minutes)

9:00 PM to 9:05 PM
Runway segment #2 (5 minutes)

9:05 PM to 9:35 PM
Comedian #3 Kathy Zemon [St. Louis] (30 Minutes)

9:35 PM to 9:40 PM
Runway segment #3 (5 minutes)

9:40 PM to 10:10 PM
Comedian #4 Rich Mansfield [Chatham] (30 Minutes)

10:10 PM to 10:20 PM
Alan Perry: Announcements and 50/50 drawing.

10:20 PM to 11:20 PM
Hat Trick (1 Hour)

11:20 PM-11:30 PM
Alan Perry/Announcements/raffle (10 Minutes)

11:30 PM to 12:30 AM
Hot Bag of Donuts (1 Hour)

12:30 AM-12:40 AM
Alan Perry/Announcements/raffle (10 Minutes)

12:40 AM to 1:40 AM
The Missing Muse (1 Hour)

1:40 PM to 1:50 PM
Alan Perry/Announcements/raffle (10 Minutes)

1:50 AM to 2:50 AM
Molten Crunch (1 Hour)

2:50 AM to 3:00 AM
Alan Perry/Announcements/raffle (10 Minutes)

http://www.access4.tv/

(217)691-1301

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The Equipment and Programing

Everyone who stops along the dial at channel 4 knows the programming has not yet resumed. At our last meeting with Ernie Slottag at the Municipal Building, he estimated that the time until the channel would be running again would be two weeks, and since that amount of time has more than elasped, the city is reported to have said the time is now “this Summer.”

To the city’s credit, the equipment was not in tip top shape when they got it. The dismantling and hauling couldn’t have helped the gear at all, but the techs said the equipment was not in working order when they hooked it up and tried to go live. Those who watched the channel during the tests heard the audio fizzle out and finally go away leaving only the images.

Ernie assured us in a delegation meeting that the data was backed up and the equipment was then decommissioned. The Council approved a request for budget appropriation and then bids were taken to replace the live server. A bid was selected, the server configuration meeting the needs of the channel was decided upon, and the order was placed.

But still no programming yet.

At the time of our last delegation meeting with Ernie, they were expecting the equipment to arrive in two weeks. We have not heard yet if it has arrived.

Speaking of equipment, the fate of that which was given to the city by Comcast, then given to CACC by the city, still remains to be seen. CACC Director Cindy Stover says that she feels that we should have it for our studio–if we can secure a physical space–and that, pending board approval, they would just give it to us. If the board does not agree, she says they reserve the right to keep the equipment even if we decide not to continue production at CACC TV studio.

The insurance requirements needed to continue the use of CACC TV are far out of reach for any single producer and doubtful for the Producers Group. A copy of the requirements will be read and discussed at the next A4PG board meeting, yet to be announced.

In our meeting with Ernie, he said the equipment would have to be returned to them if we cannot continue production at CACC TV.

 

…………

The Access 4 Producers Group has elected a Board of Directors! They will be announced and introduced in grand style at the fundraiser!

The fundraiser is in full promotion mode now, see the press release below for the official information.

Thanks to Caitie and everyone else who has been helping put it together and offering to help including A4PG members Brian Crowdson, Ann Frescura, Mario Ingoglia, and all the musicians and dancers that have volunteered to entertain.

The tickets for the fundraiser are currently available at these Springfield locations:

Caitie Girl’s 400 E. Jefferson - CaitieGirls.com
Trout Lily Café 218 S. 6th St. - TroutLilyCafe.com
Recycled Records 625 E. Adams
Metro Tailoring 127 So. Grand Ave.
Food Fantasies 1512 Wabash Ave.

 

***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Access 4 Producers Group Fundraiser
Date: Monday, May 17th, 5:30 P.M.
Location: Caitie Girl’s Restaurant, 400 E. Jefferson, Spfld, IL
Cost: $15 at the door, $11 in advance
Contact: Ted Keylon, event organizer, (217) 691-1301 for ticket and other info

The Access 4 Producers Group is holding their second fundraiser at Caitie Girl’s, 400 E. Jefferson in Springfield, Illinois on Monday, May 17th, at 5:30 P.M. to raise funds for related expenses during the formation of a 501 c3 non profit organization as well as securing a physical space for meetings and production work for all Access 4 Community Producers who were shut out of the former production facilities that had been provided by Comcast last December.

Tickets are available at Food Fantasies, Trout Lily Cafe, Recycled Records, Caitie Girl’s, Metro Tailoring and other places to be announced on the Access 4 Producers Group website at http://www.Access4.tv

Tickets are $15 at the door and $11 in advance with one dollar per ticket going to the venues that sell them.

Hor d’oeuvres will be provided along with entertainment which will include the Frank Trompeter Quartet at 5:45 P.M., Troupe Zahava belly dancers at 6:45 P.M., and Hot Bag O’ Donuts at 7:45 P.M.

More information will be available at the Access 4 Producers Group website, http://wwww.Access4.tv and by calling the event organizer, Ted
Keylon, at (217) 691-1301

Full contact:
Ted Keylon, event coordinator
(217) 691-1301
ted@tedkeylon.com

Access 4 Producers Group
info@a4pg.org
www.a4pg.org

***

 

…………

As a representative of the Access 4 Producers Group, I have received a number of reports from our committee chairs regarding the current state of Access 4. As I tell everyone, since Comcast dropped the studio this has to be looked at as a three-pronged effort: transmission (the city), production (CACC, Crowdson, Moore, and others both professional, independent, or as in the case with CACC—free), and advocacy (the producers group).

In regard to the transmission, being managed by the city (which simply means the city is going to use their equipment to put the shows onto channel 4 with their fiber optic block and the log computer given to them by Comcast), the reason given by Ernie Slottag, Communications Director for the City of Springfield, for the fact that the channel is still down (now going on three months) is that the log computer/server has a bad sound card and the “fix” done by Comcast employees in trying to use the equipment they were given can no longer work and the entire server needs to be replaced.

The money for the new server is already available in the city funds for this type of repair and the Communications Office simply needs to have appropriation approval from the City Council to use it, which is a formality and will be given according to all accounts, by mid March, in about two weeks from this writing.

All the data has been preserved from the several years of backlogged shows that had been encoded into the log computer/server, however, it is likely the new server will end up containing mostly new material.

Ernie also agreed that since the new system for managing shows and the intake of new producers is completely web-based, there is a need to provide assistance to those producers and prospective producers who do not have Internet access. The Access 4 Producers Group has decided to help with that need by providing hard copies of the forms on request as well as at Brian Crowdson’s office at 1999 Wabash Ave. Suite 102 Springfield, IL 62704. Brian is not only an independent professional television producer who has provided services such as dubbing for Access producers for years, but he was also a Comcast employee during the best days of Access under that regime as well as during Insight’s reign. He now also serves as a member of our Municipal Delegation and Production Committees as a consultant and fee-based resource provider.

Ernie also pointed out that there will be a drop box available at the Municipal Buildingfrom 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. business days for those who cannot electronically send their shows in mp2 format, which is now the preferred method of getting your shows to Access. He also reminded us that Access 4 will also be transmitted on AT&T’s Universe channel 99 starting March 10th (let’s hope the shows are running by then).

In regard to production, producers have run to a variety of options, mostly costing money, since CACC ceased production due to the need for their legal team to provide a producer’s agreement. Originally it was my understanding that this agreement would be between CACC and each individual producer, however, the legal team decided to draw up an agreement with the city which was immediately denied due to the fact that the city has nothing to do with production, only transmission. Ernie said in our meeting that they need to make the agreement with the individual producers (just as I originally thought). I am still trying to find out how much longer this will cause CACC TV to have to wait if at all before resuming the free production services they offered last January at the City Council meetings.

In regard to advocacy, you may already have read on this website and on the FaceBook Fan Page that the Donation/Finance Committee raised $386 at the fundraiser at Broadway Nites on February 19th.  There is a Full Group meeting scheduled for this Saturday, March 6^th at the Lincoln Public Library at 6:00 P.M. at a room to be announced by Steering Committee Chair Alyce Lyle where most of this information will be presented and comments will be heard and new ideas entertained.

-Ted Keylon 

 

…………

Middle Option Music Studio, Ric “Skippy” Major

The Fundraiser raised $386, bringing the current available funds to $516!

Here are some archives from BRN from the live webcast. There were router issues they said but they were able to capture a few moments:

BRN promo of event:
http://www.ustream.tv/reco rded/4860401

Alan and announcement of totals so far:
http://www.ustream.tv/reco rded/4860424

Buddha Eskew comedy:
http://www.ustream.tv/reco rded/4860268

Rebel Bass:
http://www.ustream.tv/reco rded/4863614

Comedy [Mature Content Warning]:
http://www.ustream.tv/reco rded/4860721

They got started late and the router dropped them too much toward the end so sorry to Sam West, The Regulars, Flatland, and God’s Prodigy who all did a fantastic job. The crowd loved all of you!!

The issues will all be resolved by the next fundraiser and plans are already underway how we can really improve the event.

 

Thanks to Ric “Skippy” Major and Middle Option Music, Dashi Kitchen at Broadway Nites, Nixon Vici, Alan Perry, Pints and Punx, The Springfield Film Commission, Basement Radio, Robin the Sound Man, Community Producer Steven Lucas, Co-host Ann Frescura, Alderman Sam Cahnman, Roger Smith, Community Producer Mario Ingoglia, and Alphonzo and Melody and the entire staff at Broadway Nites and all the bands and comedians.

OH and thanks to Community Producer Bernie Lutchman!

And thanks to Illinois Times, S J-R, WMAY, Greg Bishop and Kirk Farah, and Channel 20!!!!

And thanks to Arjuna Records for helping to find bands willing to help!

 

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It has been suggested by local comedian, Alan Perry, that we hold a fundraiser with local bands and comedians. I have contacted Ric “Skippy” Major’s Springfield musicpage on FaceBook to recruit bands that may want to help. Any other ideas or offers can be made here: info@a4pg.org.

We met at Broadway Nites with Roger Smith, Al of Broadway Nites, Alan Perry, and me (Ted Keylon) and set a date of Friday, February 19th, 8:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M.

Here is the schedule line up:

8:00 P.M. – Alan Perry – Stage 2

8:30 P.M. – God’s Prodigy: Pazz Da Mic & LG – Main Stage

9:30 P.M. – Flatland

10:30 P.M. – Buddha Eskew – Stage 2

11:00 P.M. – Dead Zebbra – Main Stage

12:00 A.M. – Sam West – Stage 2

12:30 A.M. – Rebel Bass – Main Stage

1:15 A.M. – Rich Mansfield – Stage 2

1:45 A.M. – The Regulars – Main Stage

2:30 A.M. – The Terrible Disappointments – Stage 2

As you can see we have decided to have a second stage area which will be just off the main stage. Only comedy and acoustic acts will be on this stage, plus the finale with Justin and Nick, “The Terrible Disappointments.” This will help the bands switch over and have more time to set up and tear down and more time to play.

Middle Option Music is our sponsor now.

I have sent the press release to WMAY,WQLZ, WNNS, WLCE, WICS, Illinois Times and State Journal-Register.

I have purchased ad space in the fund raising section in the Illinois Times for the three weeks prior to the event and I have also used the free week they offer for this week to coincide with the article that Patrick Yeagle wrote which you can read here.

I was on the air on Greg Bishop’s Saturday Session on WMAY twice now talking about the fundraiser and I have spoken with Rob Hansen of Basement Radio to conduct a live remote during the event.

We have pledges that cover the $200 for the sound guy already.

Please let me know if you have any questions or want to help: info@a4pg.org

Or call me at (217)836-4799, Ted Keylon (Web Admin/ Steering Committee Reporter/Donation Committee Chair)

…………

Deb Antoine and Ernie Slottag have informed me that they each have websites up now. The City Access site is at http://www.access4springfield.org and deals with the scheduling of your shows and has PDF documents for new producers and various other related information on the *broadcast end.*

Deb Antoine has put up a Ning Network to facilitate the production schedule and to allow producers to upload their own content here http://accessspringfield.ning.com

The Municipal Delegation is meeting with Ernie next Wednesday at 2:00 P.M. and will report the results to the Steering Committee at their meeting later at the Public Library, Carnegie Room South at 6:00 P.M.

 

This message is from Ernie Slottag from Janurary 5th:

Just to give you an update on where Access 4 stands.  We have moved the first portion of equipment and are testing it to be sure everything is working properly.  We hope to have calendar of events information up in the next day or two.  We are targeting sometime next week to have programming up and running.

Again, we are targeting running the same program schedule as before.  We have no reason to change it.

We will soon have a webpage up and running.  Within it will be some forms.  The one I would like to have producers fill out is an information form, which will give us updated contact information about each producer, and a short description of the program.  This will help us identify which programs are which and get them on the air properly.

The update will also allow me to make an email list so that we can contact each other, and set up a method for producers to tell me which programs should run when.  That way we get the proper episode on during the proper week.

Thank you for your assistance in helping us make this transition a smooth one.  We still have a short learning curve to go through, but hopefully things will get sorted out soon.

Also, for your information, we are getting hooked up with AT&T later this month so that Access 4 will be on their U-Verse system.  They put all the PEG channels within the channel 99 menu.

 -  Ernie Slottag

 

 

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